Our friend, Jeannie, came to visit. We decided Moorten Botanical Garden should be at the top of our things-to-do list in Palm Springs, since she is an amazing gardener (more on her garden here). On Wednesday afternoon, we walked over to the Garden and saw the sign on the gate: “CLOSED on Wednesday.” Nooooooo!
Jeannie had to leave before she could visit Moorten, but we were intrigued by what lay behind that gate so returned on our own a few days later.
Moorten was established almost 80 years ago.
Hair brush cactus has intriguing needles and reminded us of little stars.
The many small balls of the mammalaria cactuses were nicely paired with agave plants. Those reddish-brown lava rocks really set off the green desert plants.
Moorten provides a perfect setting for birds. We saw Anna’s hummingbirds (photo), verdins, and white-crowned sparrows.
Have you ever seen a plant like this?
Agave americana ‘Variegata’, the century plant, had octopus-like leaves.
And this plant had curly tendrils.
The rustic sign outside and the small size of the property might have misled us to think that this might be a waste of time and money. (There’s a $4 entry fee). Fortunately, we had read reviews before we went and those encouraged us to pay a visit. The garden was splendid, and we spent a couple hours there enjoying everything we saw. The only caution we would offer: Please don’t touch the plants.
January 2016
simpletravelourway 
What a great garden – with some odd specimens! Enjoyed the tour, thank you.
You’re welcome. This small garden has a lot to offer.
Great pics.
Thx!
I guess you would be taking care to look where you were walking. Looks great
We saw a bike path here lined on both sides with barrel cacti, not where a cyclist would want to take a fall. What were they thinking?
What is that wrinkly plant?
We’d like to know too. Perhaps someone else will know.